SORIA MORIA CASTLE Once on a time there was a poor couple who had a son whose name was Halvor. Ever since he was a little boy he would turn his hand to nothing, but just sat there and groped about in the ashes. His father and mother often put him out to learn this trade or that, but Halvor could stay nowhere; for, when he had been there … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] SORIA MORIA CASTLE

THE THREE PRINCESSES OF WHITELAND Once on a time there was a fisherman who lived close by a palace, and fished for the King’s table. One day when he was out fishing he just caught nothing. Do what he would-however he tried with bait and angle-there was never a sprat on his hook. But when the day was far spent a head bobbed up out … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] THE THREE PRINCESSES OF WHITELAND

THE HUSBAND WHO WAS TO MIND THE HOUSE Once on a time there was a man, so surly and cross, he never thought his Wife did anything right in the house. So, one evening, in haymaking time, he came home, scolding and swearing, and showing his teeth and making a dust. “Dear love, don’t be so angry; there’s a good man,” said his goody; “to-morrow let’s change our … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] Short stories 1

THE LASSIE AND HER GODMOTHER Once on a time a poor couple lived far, far away in a great wood. The wife was brought to bed, and had a pretty girl, but they were so poor they did not know how to get the babe christened, for they had no money to pay the parson’s fees. So one day the father went out to see if … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] THE LASSIE AND HER GODMOTHER

PRINCE LINDWORM Once upon a time, there was a fine young King who was married to the loveliest of Queens. They were exceedingly happy, all but for one thing—they had no children. And this often made them both sad, because the Queen wanted a dear little child to play with, and the King wanted an heir to the kingdom. One day the Queen went out for a walk by herself, and she met an … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] PRINCE LINDWORM

THE BLUE BELT Once on a time there was an old beggar-woman, who had gone out to beg. She had a little lad with her, and when she had got her bag full she struck across the hills towards her own home. So when they had gone a bit up the hill-side, they came upon a little Blue Belt which lay where two paths met, and the lad … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] THE BLUE BELT

PREFACE A folk-tale, in its primitive plainness of word and entire absence of complexity in thought, is peculiarly sensitive and susceptible to the touch of stranger hands; and he who has been able to acquaint himself with the Norske Folkeeventyr of Asbjörnsen and Moe (from which these stories are selected), has an advantage over the reader of an English rendering. Of this advantage Mr. Kay Nielsen has … Continue reading [East of the Sun and West of the Moon, old tales from the North] EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON